Image with Commentary
February 2012
The work of an anesthetist is sometimes described as hours of boredom interspersed with moments of terror. Medical training prepares the practitioner for the moments of terror but what about the hours of boredom? How does an anesthetist learn to remain attentive and not undergo a decrement in vigilance when nothing happens for hours at a time? Boredom is an enemy of vigilance and each individual finds that mental place where he or she can multitask without being distracted from the primary duty of safety for the patient.
The image displays a panorama of complex spine surgery. The anesthesia machines do their tiresome work without complaint. The ventilator fills and empties the lungs every six seconds. The blood pressure cuff expands and contracts every five minutes. And the EKG monitor chirps the cadence of its special song.
With these reassuring sounds from the anesthesia equipment, the hand of the nurse anesthetist plays across the screen of a smart phone. Is she playing Angry Birds? Is she tweeting a friend? Is she researching the clinical profile of a drug? It doesn't matter as long as she remains attentive to the needs of the surgical team and vigilant to any change in the condition of her patient. (2012)